ESPN’s “College GameDay” has taken over the University of Utah’s campus.
The popular college football pregame show is set up in President’s Circle, broadcasting from 7-10 a.m.
Follow along here for updates throughout the day, leading up to No. 24 Utah’s showdown with No. 17 Cincinnati.
How “College GameDay” hosts picked
Desmond Howard: Utah — “Cincy is my underdog and I think they’re going to come out and play a gallant game tonight... but I gotta go with the Utes.”
Nick Saban: Utah — “I think the difference is that Utah’s defense is a little better than Cincinnati’s defense. ... I’m taking Utah all the way.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pat McAfee and Kyle Whittingham during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Kirk Herbstreit: Cincinnati — “Brandon Sorsby throwing and running is the difference.”
Alex Smith: Utah — Maybe if this game was at historic Nippert Stadium, I’d be feeling like [the Bearcats] have a chance. But it’s not. These Cincinnati boys are not accustomed to these new heights. And here on the Wasatch range of the Rocky Mountains, a night game at Rice-Eccles Stadium ... the Utes win big."
Pat McAfee: Utah — “To help with Cincinnati. We’re in Utah, baby, and this place is amazing.”
Utah students make $250K in McAfee’s kicking contest
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jonah Knubel in Pat McAfee’s Kicking Contest during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
A University of Utah student missed out on a $1 million kick.
But Jonah Knubel and Garrett Morris still took home a check from Pat McAfee’s kicking contest.
Morris, a Utah accounting student, was selected for the popular contest but enlisted the services of Knubel.
“I climb rocks; I don’t kick,” Morris said.
Knubel, a Utah senior, said he kicked one season for the Jordan High School football team four years ago. During that season, Knubel said, he made three of the five field goals he attempted.
On Saturday morning, Knubel went 1 for 2. His first attempt — which would have been worth $750,000 for the two students plus another $250,000 for a Utah charity — sailed wide right.
Given a second attempt, this time for $250,000, Knubel snuck the kick just inside the upright.
Some of our favorite photos from the morning
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah fans during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jonah Knubel celebrates his field goal in Pat McAfee’s Kicking Contest during the broadcast of ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Utah’s helmets
The Utes are wearing custom helmets with the circle and feather logo painted on them.
The artist is a man named Armando Villareal, who has created a special helmet for the Utes for a number of years now.
Here’s a look at how he does it.
The rivalry never stops
“You think to yourself Salt Lake City or Utah, you think to yourself mountains, skiing beautiful, Mormons, soaking, quaking, all those things,” ESPN personality Pat McAfee said near the top of Saturday’s broadcast. “This place loves football.”
On the minds of the Utah fans in attendance? The Utes’ rivals.
After McAfee shouted out the Mighty Utah Student Section, the crowd broke out in a chant of “F--- BYU.”
“What they’re saying is ‘truck BYU’ and you can do that because BYU is about 15 minutes down the road,” McAfee said.
Then, after pointing out that he was wearing a blue shirt, fans changed their chant to “Take it off!”
McAfee quickly obliged.
“GameDay” guest picker in Utah
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Alex Smith at a news conference before the Utah Utes host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
ESPN will welcome former Utah quarterback legend Alex Smith as its celebrity guest picker this weekend at the University of Utah.
Smith was the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft after leading the Utes to an undefeated season in 2004, which was capped off with a BCS-busting bowl win over Pitt. In that same season, Smith became the first-ever Ute to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
The former Utah and NFL quarterback also became the first player in program history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
Here’s what else you can expect from “GameDay’s” lineup ahead of No. 24 Utah’s matchup with No. 17 Cincinnati on Saturday.
The Utes’ “College GameDay” woes
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former Utah player Steve Smith Sr., right, and panelist Pat McAfee on ESPN’s College GameDay college football show at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
This is the ninth time the Utes have been featured on the show. Fans are hoping they can break their “mild curse” and improve their 2-6 “GameDay” record.
Injury updates
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) stands on the sidelines during the game between the Utah Utes and the Colorado Buffaloes at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier was not listed on Friday’s availability report. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has said Dampier remains the team’s No. 1 QB, but the Utes could still go with freshman Byrd Ficklin if they think he gives them the best chance to win tonight.
OUT for the Utes:
OUT for the Bearcats: